NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 3
2026/2027 Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationale | Newest Update
| Galen College of Nursing
Section 1: Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology (Questions 1-20)
1. The first heart sound (S1) is caused by:
• Answer: B) Closure of the atrioventricular (AV) valves
• Rationale: S1 (the "lub") marks the beginning of systole and is produced by the
closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves (AV valves). S1 is best heard at the apex
of the heart .
2. The second heart sound (S2) is caused by:
• Answer: C) Closure of the semilunar valves
• Rationale: S2 (the "dub") is produced by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic
valves at the beginning of diastole .
3. The aortic valve is best auscultated at:
• Answer: A) Second intercostal space, right sternal border
• Rationale: The aortic valve is best heard at the 2nd intercostal space at the right
sternal margin .
4. The pulmonic valve is best auscultated at:
• Answer: B) Second intercostapace, left sternal border
• Rationale: The pulmonic valve is best heard at the 2nd intercostal space at the
left sternal border .
,5. The mitral valve is best auscultated at:
• Answer: D) Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
• Rationale: The mitral valve is best heard at the 5th intercostal space at the left
midclavicular line (the apex of the heart) .
6. The tricuspid valve is best auscultated at:
• Answer: C) Left lower sternal border
• Rationale: The tricuspid valve is best heard at the left lower sternal border .
7. What is the apical impulse (point of maximal impulse, PMI)?
• Answer: Palpated at the 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line
• Rationale: The apical impulse (PMI) is the lowest and most lateral point where
the cardiac impulse is palpable, corresponding to the apex of the left ventricle .
8. The right side of the heart pumps blood to:
• Answer: Lungs
• Rationale: The right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs
for oxygenation. The left side pumps oxygenated blood to the body .
9. The left side of the heart pumps blood to:
• Answer: Body (systemic circulation)
• Rationale: The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood through the aorta to the
entire body .
10. The SA node is known as the:
• Answer: Pacemaker of the heart
• Rationale: The SA node generates electrical impulses that initiate each heartbeat,
making it the natural pacemaker of the heart .
11. The P wave on an ECG represents:
, • Answer: Atrial depolarization
• Rationale: The P wave represents the electrical activity of atrial depolarization,
which triggers atrial contraction .
12. The QRS complex represents:
• Answer: Ventricular depolarization
• Rationale: The QRS complex represents the electrical activity of ventricular
depolarization, which triggers ventricular contraction .
13. The T wave represents:
• Answer: Ventricular repolarization
• Rationale: The T wave represents ventricular repolarization, the recovery phase
of the ventricles .
14. What is the formula for cardiac output (CO)?
• Answer: CO = Stroke Volume × Heart Rate
• Rationale: Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per
minute, calculated by multiplying stroke volume by heart rate .
15. Right AV valve is also called:
• Answer: Tricuspid valve
• Rationale: The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle
and is heard at the 5th intercostal space at the left sternal border .
16. Left AV valve is also called:
• Answer: Mitral valve
• Rationale: The mitral (bicuspid) valve separates the left atrium from the left
ventricle and is best heard at the 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line .
17. A thrill during cardiac assessment indicates:
, • Answer: Turbulent blood flow
• Rationale: A thrill is a palpable vibration felt over the chest wall, indicating
turbulent blood flow, often due to a valvular lesion .
18. A pulse deficit is calculated as:
• Answer: Apical pulse minus radial pulse
• Rationale: A pulse deficit is the difference between the apical heart rate and the
radial pulse rate. It indicates that not all cardiac contractions are transmitted to
peripheral pulses .
19. What is Erb's point?
• Answer: The 3rd left intercostal space, where S2 is often best heard
• Rationale: Erb's point is located at the 3rd left intercostal space and is often the
best location to hear S2 .
20. Pulsations of the precordium are considered:
• Answer: Abnormal
• Rationale: Visible or palpable pulsations over the chest are considered abnormal
and may indicate cardiac enlargement or other pathology .
Section 2: Cardiovascular Assessment Techniques
(Questions 21-45)
21. How should the nurse palpate the carotid artery?
• Answer: Palpate one carotid artery at a time gently
2026/2027 Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationale | Newest Update
| Galen College of Nursing
Section 1: Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology (Questions 1-20)
1. The first heart sound (S1) is caused by:
• Answer: B) Closure of the atrioventricular (AV) valves
• Rationale: S1 (the "lub") marks the beginning of systole and is produced by the
closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves (AV valves). S1 is best heard at the apex
of the heart .
2. The second heart sound (S2) is caused by:
• Answer: C) Closure of the semilunar valves
• Rationale: S2 (the "dub") is produced by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic
valves at the beginning of diastole .
3. The aortic valve is best auscultated at:
• Answer: A) Second intercostal space, right sternal border
• Rationale: The aortic valve is best heard at the 2nd intercostal space at the right
sternal margin .
4. The pulmonic valve is best auscultated at:
• Answer: B) Second intercostapace, left sternal border
• Rationale: The pulmonic valve is best heard at the 2nd intercostal space at the
left sternal border .
,5. The mitral valve is best auscultated at:
• Answer: D) Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
• Rationale: The mitral valve is best heard at the 5th intercostal space at the left
midclavicular line (the apex of the heart) .
6. The tricuspid valve is best auscultated at:
• Answer: C) Left lower sternal border
• Rationale: The tricuspid valve is best heard at the left lower sternal border .
7. What is the apical impulse (point of maximal impulse, PMI)?
• Answer: Palpated at the 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line
• Rationale: The apical impulse (PMI) is the lowest and most lateral point where
the cardiac impulse is palpable, corresponding to the apex of the left ventricle .
8. The right side of the heart pumps blood to:
• Answer: Lungs
• Rationale: The right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs
for oxygenation. The left side pumps oxygenated blood to the body .
9. The left side of the heart pumps blood to:
• Answer: Body (systemic circulation)
• Rationale: The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood through the aorta to the
entire body .
10. The SA node is known as the:
• Answer: Pacemaker of the heart
• Rationale: The SA node generates electrical impulses that initiate each heartbeat,
making it the natural pacemaker of the heart .
11. The P wave on an ECG represents:
, • Answer: Atrial depolarization
• Rationale: The P wave represents the electrical activity of atrial depolarization,
which triggers atrial contraction .
12. The QRS complex represents:
• Answer: Ventricular depolarization
• Rationale: The QRS complex represents the electrical activity of ventricular
depolarization, which triggers ventricular contraction .
13. The T wave represents:
• Answer: Ventricular repolarization
• Rationale: The T wave represents ventricular repolarization, the recovery phase
of the ventricles .
14. What is the formula for cardiac output (CO)?
• Answer: CO = Stroke Volume × Heart Rate
• Rationale: Cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per
minute, calculated by multiplying stroke volume by heart rate .
15. Right AV valve is also called:
• Answer: Tricuspid valve
• Rationale: The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle
and is heard at the 5th intercostal space at the left sternal border .
16. Left AV valve is also called:
• Answer: Mitral valve
• Rationale: The mitral (bicuspid) valve separates the left atrium from the left
ventricle and is best heard at the 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line .
17. A thrill during cardiac assessment indicates:
, • Answer: Turbulent blood flow
• Rationale: A thrill is a palpable vibration felt over the chest wall, indicating
turbulent blood flow, often due to a valvular lesion .
18. A pulse deficit is calculated as:
• Answer: Apical pulse minus radial pulse
• Rationale: A pulse deficit is the difference between the apical heart rate and the
radial pulse rate. It indicates that not all cardiac contractions are transmitted to
peripheral pulses .
19. What is Erb's point?
• Answer: The 3rd left intercostal space, where S2 is often best heard
• Rationale: Erb's point is located at the 3rd left intercostal space and is often the
best location to hear S2 .
20. Pulsations of the precordium are considered:
• Answer: Abnormal
• Rationale: Visible or palpable pulsations over the chest are considered abnormal
and may indicate cardiac enlargement or other pathology .
Section 2: Cardiovascular Assessment Techniques
(Questions 21-45)
21. How should the nurse palpate the carotid artery?
• Answer: Palpate one carotid artery at a time gently
